- Cisco will launch a new network controller to advance quantum network scaling.
- Quantum applications should be able to tell the network their requirements, and the network should automatically execute the tasks.
- The quantum network controller uses an abstraction layer to handle different hardware requirements.
- Cisco hopes to benefit traditional networks from quantum networking experience.
Cisco will soon launch a new network controller capable of scaling quantum networks and is seeking design partners to eventually offer Entanglement-as-a-Service (EaaS). Recent advances in quantum computing strongly indicate this is the future direction. However, achieving this goal still requires substantial groundwork. For example, quantum computing and sensing technologies cannot scale until quantum networks are established. Although quantum computing research is progressing rapidly, most of its work remains manual — from fiber to configuration, setting states, fidelity, and everything quantum applications require must be done by hand.
Networking giant Cisco aims to change this status quo and has been working to address the various components needed to make quantum networks scalable.
Quantum Network Controller Capabilities
In the view of Vijoy Pandey, senior vice president of Outshift by Cisco, running a quantum network today is like driving a car but having to handle everything simultaneously — steering, controlling fuel lines, keeping the engine cool, and turning the axles. Outshift, Cisco's division for turning ideas into products, now believes quantum networking has reached the point where driving needs to be simplified. Quantum applications should be able to tell the quantum network what conditions they need, and the network should automatically handle the rest, whether for sensing, computing, or security.
In a blog post, Pandey detailed that scaling quantum computing comes not merely from adding qubits but from connecting multiple devices — precisely Cisco's forte. Earlier this year, the company released its universal quantum switch, capable of scaling quantum connections and allowing the establishment of large numbers of quantum links. As large numbers of quantum nodes work in concert, software must coordinate these nodes to ensure the system operates under the precise requirements of quantum operations. This is the missing layer Cisco is building through its quantum network controller.
EaaS Model and Partnerships
The quantum network controller is a hardware-agnostic device that uses an abstraction layer to handle sources, switches, detectors, and timing systems. Quantum applications send their requirements to the controller without knowing what hardware is connected at the other end, similar to how cloud infrastructure provides compute as a service. Cisco calls this model Entanglement-as-a-Service (EaaS). However, because quantum information cannot be read without being destroyed, the controller must rely on link-quality statistics and continuously verify until the application runs. Unlike other Cisco products, the quantum network controller will not be publicly released, as many aspects still require further refinement.
The company is open to working with partners to realize practical applications.
Cisco does not aim to be the first mover in quantum networking. The company believes quantum networking experience also applies to classical networks. In high-frequency financial applications or anti-theft protection in security, lessons can be drawn from quantum networking and immediately applied to classical networks.
Potential Impact of the Quantum Network Controller
Cisco's new network controller marks a significant advance in quantum networking technology, aimed at simplifying quantum application operations. As quantum computing develops rapidly, enterprise demand for quantum networks is increasing, making the launch of the quantum network controller particularly important. By reducing manual operations, Cisco hopes to improve quantum network scalability and efficiency, and apply these lessons to classical networks — which has significant implications for applications in finance and security.